Disclaimer: I don't own Chicago Fire or any affiliated shows, or the characters thereof. This is just for fun.

I'm sorry for the delay! i had written myself into a corner, and needed to move a few things around to fix it. I hope that there are still people out there reading along.

I hope that you like the latest chapter of An Occupational Hazard.

Chapter Fifteen

Jennifer was the first to arrive, and she quickly made her way through the assembled crowd of first responders in the intensive care unit waiting area, as she headed for her only child's hospital room.

It didn't matter that Kelly was a grown man, he would always be her baby boy, and she needed to see him.

Stella was in the corner of the room speaking quietly to Chief Boden, while Kelly lay resting in the hospital bed.

Kelly was so pale, and far too thin, his muscles wasted, and an absent expression on his face. Honestly, it horrified Jennifer as she entered the room.

"Oh lord, my baby," Jennifer murmured as she hastily moved to Kelly's side.

"Mom?" Kelly asked hoarsely.

Stella's tired eyes immediately were drawn to Kelly, as he had barely recognised anyone since being brought to the hospital.

"I'm right here, Kelly, I'm here now," Jennifer murmured as she gently took Kelly's hand in her own.

"I screwed everything up, Mom. I should be here to help Stella look after our baby, but I don't think it's going to be long now… I'm tired. Thank you for coming to see me, Mom."

In that moment Stella couldn't have felt more torn, as she wanted more than anything to enjoy Kelly's moment of lucidity, but she didn't want to take it away from his mom. And so Stella stood back, angrily swiping away the tears falling down her cheeks.

As Kelly drifted back to sleep, Jennifer turned on Stella. "Why didn't you call me sooner?"

"Excuse me?!" Stella asked Jennifer in indignation. "You could have picked up the phone. We haven't heard from you in weeks."

"Well, this hasn't exactly been easy for me."

"And you think it's been easy for Kelly and me? Get over yourself, Jennifer."

"Cut it out! Both of you," Boden said firmly as he stepped protectively in front of Stella. "It doesn't matter now, does it? We've known each other a long time, Jenn. That doesn't give you any right though to yell at one of my people, especially not now. Stella has done her best, and she's done a damn fine job handling Severide's illness. And she's your future grandbaby's mom, so knock it off."

"It's okay, Chief," Stella tried, but Boden wasn't having any of it.

"The doctors say that it won't be long now. Do you think Kelly would want you two fighting about him?" After a long silence, Boden commented, "I didn't think so. Jennifer, if you want to stay why don't you pull up a chair so that you can sit with us? That is if Stella is alright with that?"

"Of course it's okay," Stella said after a brief moment. "Jennifer, you're Kelly's mom, and I'm going to need some help from here on out." Stella put a hand to her protruding belly. "I know that Kelly wants you to be a part of this baby's life."

Any further conversation was ceased, as there was a light knock at the doorway. It was Katie, Kelly's half-sister.

"I'm sorry to interrupt-" Katie began uncertainly, only to have Stella go straight to her and embrace her.

"Oh, don't even say that, Katie! Thank you for coming," Stella said gently as she walked Katie to the opposite side of the bed from where Jennifer was sitting. "We're glad you're here."

"It's really bad, isn't it?" Katie asked sadly as she took a seat.

Stella rubbed Katie's shoulder comfortingly. "It is. I'm sorry."

For quite a long time the assorted group remained mostly silent, only speaking whenever Kelly would wake up in a confused and agitated state, and so needed to be calmed down (the nurse were already suggesting that they place Kelly in soft restraints to prevent him injuring himself or others).

It remained that way until Stella finally brought herself to speak, "I want to take him home. He'll be more settled in a familiar environment, and we all know that he wouldn't want to die here."

"I agree," Boden said after a moment.

"Me too," Katie added.

"…I- Shouldn't we see if the doctors can do anything else to help him?" Jennifer said.

"Jenn, you know that he tried everything, that the doctors have tried everything. Kelly wants to die at home, we should honour his wishes," Boden interjected gently.

"I know," Jennifer said a moment later, then she turned to Stella. "Let's take our boy home."

Less than twelve hours later, Kelly was carefully transferred from a gurney to his bed in the apartment by two unfamiliar paramedics, while Stella stood to the side subconsciously rubbing her rounded belly. Jennifer and Katie were waiting in the living room whilst Kelly was being settled in.

As Stella looked around the room, she was mildly horrified by the volume of medical equipment that had been arranged by Susan so that Kelly could be cared for at home. In one corner there was a large oxygen concentrator, which connected to a plastic mask fitted over Kelly's mouth and nose. At the side of the bed was a heavily laden IV pole, which was holding numerous medications and nutrients that were being pumped into Kelly's body through his central line.

'Kelly would be so embarrassed if anyone saw him now,' Stella thought sadly, but ultimately it was her decision to make now, and she needed all the help that she could get.

Christopher Herrmann had put together a roster of their firehouse family to ensure that someone familiar was always in the house in addition to the caregiver from the hospice. The roster even accounted for their shifts, adding Cindy Herrmann and Chloe Cruz to the roster amongst others who had agreed to pitch in when no one from the firehouse was available.

They soon fell into a routine, and Kelly became more settled each day that he was out of the hospital. Stella was making a dinner for herself and Cindy, when she first felt a tightening sensation through her belly. It was painful, but as it passed so quickly, Stella soon forgot about it, and she continued making dinner.

It wasn't until late that night, as Stella lay in bed beside her husband, that Stella felt an intolerable pain shoot through her abdomen.

Stella cried out in fear, as she knew in her core that something was wrong. Then, there was a warm, wet feeling between her legs. Stella looked, thinking that her waters may have broken, but what she saw was far more terrifying. Blood covered her pyjama pants and the bed linens, and it wasn't stopping.

Cindy came in at that moment to investigate Stella's cries, only to see the desperate situation before her eyes.

Stella locked eyes with Cindy, as if to say 'please don't let me die'.

"I'm calling 911," Cindy said, trying to stay calm.

As Cindy was speaking a dispatcher, Kelly began to stir. Stella couldn't even find the words to comfort him, as she was so scared herself. What was happening?! Was their baby dead? Was she going to die?

Stella could faintly hear Cindy speaking to the 911 dispatcher, as she slumped back towards the bed.

Cindy tried to ease her fall backwards, but was surprised when Kelly moved suddenly to protect his wife from harm.

It broke Cindy's heart to see Kelly's frail form cradling Stella's body in his arms, as tears streamed down his face. It was all Cindy could do to assure Kelly that help was on the way.

To Be Continued…

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